Online Sales Defy the Credit Crunch

Far from the gloomy sales figures on the High Street, online sales are flying high, according to recent business reports by the BBC.

Manchester, UK (PRWEB) November 21, 2008 -- Far from the gloomy sales figures on the High Street, online sales are flying high, according to recent business reports by the BBC.

That's the opinion of many people involved in e-commerce, Including Elaine Ferneley, Professor of Technological Innovation at the Salford Business School who said there were a number of reasons why online shopping was proving so popular.

"People are more conscious of what they're spending and, with sites like Kelkoo and Pricerunner, the web allows them to make useful cost comparisons when they're looking for a bargain," she said.

Lawrence Jones of UK web host UK Fast confirms this.

"I'd say we're in the middle of a boom," said Lawrence "And I'd say we've been in a boom for some time but because of the boom of the early years that went horribly wrong, people have been very nervous of saying that."

UK Fast looks after 250,000 web sites, all busy trying to compete in the world of e-commerce.

Niche is nice

Online success is happening for companies of all sizes.

High Street favourite Marks & Spencer revealed that, while overall sales had fallen 6.1% during the second quarter of 2008, its online sales had shot up 34%.

Professor Ferneley added that big companies like IKEA were already questioning whether they needed more shops or should be concentrating on their online sales. Even small niche businesses were seeing growth online, extending their sales globally, she said.

Printerland.co.uk (http://www.printerland.co.uk) based in Altrincham is one of them. The computer printer (http://www.printerland.co.uk) business has seen its turnover soar from £2 million to £18 million in just three years - largely from online sales. In spite of the global gloom, managing Director James Kight said they'd just witnessed their best two weeks' sales ever and were even recruiting staff to cope with demand. "We've not dropped our prices or anything," he said. "We've just increased our marketing. It's about getting the fundamentals right, in terms of good customer service, and having an online side to the business that delivers."

There are lots of businesses out there busily trading, making huge sums of money, they are under the radar because they don't go shouting about it.

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